For The Sake Of Love❤

chapter 28: AFTERMATH

Years have passed after the day of massacre.....
The awam seems to have no idea about the whereabouts of the queen as no one either from the fort or the royal family is talking about it....
Rumours were rife that she might not return,some said she might be dead and many more....
The empire  which had a  golden period is now having the worst of times....
The ladies of harem do not even think about her except some....

The scene shifts back to a village near the banks of ravi......

The sun rays peeped through the screen....directly in her face.....
She slowly opened her eyes with a lot of difficulty....
She felt something heavy in her forehead and reached out to find a paste applied....
She slowly looked around and had no clue where she was.....
She tried to get up,but felt a pricking pain in her chest....she looked down to notice a Patti inside her kurta...
She closed her eyes and the events from that day flashed in front of her....
She speaks to herself," ya rab! Where am I? "
She proceeds to think again but she only remembered falling off the cliff and then only back out....

She tried hard to get up and in the process pushes the glass next to her....
It makes a noise and a girl  in her early teens comes running inside the tent....

The girl screams," ya Allah! You are awake! I ll go and call my mother"
Ruqaiya just blinks at her reaction  and notices  the surroundings....
She says to herself,'where am I?'

The girl brings two ladies both in their late 50s....
One among them spoke," are u feeling better now,beta?"
Ruqaiya has no clue what is happening with her.....
The other lady starts," oh sorry! We all introduce ourselves! My name is sadi and she is my daughter,Noor!"
The name rings a lot of memories to ruqaiya as she remembered her little Noor and tears fell from her eyes.....
Sadi consoles her," ohk don't cry,now will u tell me who r you?"
Ruqaiya asks them," where am I? How did i end up here?"
Noor replies," you are in our village, near the banks of river ravi!"
Ruqaiya is astonished," ravi? In Lahore?"
The women nodded....
Noor continues," you were brought here by my brother...."
Ruqaiya is processing the information....
Sadi says to Noor," you don't disturb her and let her rest for sometime!"
Noor replies," ammi,But I wanna spend time with her,we ll go to the mela too....it would be fun"
Sadi in a stern tone," no way, you can't take her to mela.....and also tomorrow is eid....and I don't want any chaos...! Did you understand?"
Noor becomes sad....
Ruqaiya was confused,"eid?!"
Sadi says," yes it's eid tomorrow "
She is amused," it's just that I think I celebrated eid 3 months back and -"
Sadi and Noor raise their brows....
Ruqaiya asks," for how many days I have been here?"
Noor says," you should ask how many years!"
Ruqaiya's world came crashing down....
She asks," ye-ye-years?!"
Sadi understood the situation and sent Noor out....
Sadi  started caressing her hair," beta! I can understand the turmoil you are going through! Being unconscious for many years! Lot of things would have changed from your past!"
Ruqaiya eyes were filled with tears...she felt a sense of betrayal from the nature itself.....and sadi's care reminded her of her mother.....
Sadi after a pause says," what is your name,bacha? Where are u from?"
She was confused at the question.....she thought to herself,' if I tell her who am I,will she believe?jalal- where is he?did he not search for me?'
Sadi says," it's okay....take your time...there is no hurry..."
She kisses ruqaiya's hair and leaves from there....

*in agra*
Everyone assembled in the court....
Many discussions over the years were helmed by maham anga and her son who also gave their final judgement.....
Shehensha rarely attends any court meetings or sessions.....
A minister asks," atga sahab! Will shehensha come today? Or wazir-e- alia will?"
Atga khan who was serving the mughal empire with loyalty and faith in his heart seems to have lost it all....
He replies," I hope yes,because the matter that we are about to discuss is of utmost importance....because it's about the promise that mallika-e-hind gave to the people!"
The other nods in response.....
Maham anga and her son enters the room.....then salima begum too came and sat behind the veil....(only her not other begums)
Then came the announcement of the arrival of the emperor.....

Many things about the emperor has changed.....the one who had a straight composure, a royal charisma to his presence  now was not even able to walk in a fixed path....
His eyes were red and he smelled of alcohol..... he no longer responds to salutations  and sat on his throne in a confused state.....
The ministry noticed it all and talked among themselves.....

Maham anga starts the session....it was about  buildings built in each province by the empire.....
Maham anga says," all the buildings are completed as per your orders shehensha!"
Atga khan stands up and says," baadshah salamat!  The idea of providing education to the children was the foundation behind this idea! As promised, we need your official seal in orders to open those madrasas!"

Shehensha was humming all this while..
He says," promisee?whose promise atga khan?"
He is shocked.....
Maham anga smirks....
Atga khan without hesitation says," promise of baadshahi begum!"
The emperor becomes angry.....
"TO hell  with the promise"
He continues , " all those buildings will not be madrasas...."
Everyone in the court is shocked....
The emperor says," Maine bhi kisi se vaada Kiya  Hai....  "
He claps his hands and a beautiful young woman walks in....she is dressed in a seductive way and stands in front of the throne....
Salima is shocked to see her....
Moti Bai who was by her side says," see begum sahiba! Till then she was only in his chamber, now she is in the court!"
Salima looks on....

His eyes softened by looking at her....
He smiles and says," those buildings are my gift to you , nadira!"
Everyone were utterly shocked.....

*in salima's chambers*
Atga khan says," yeh konsa bewaqauf waala  faislaah Hai,begum sahiba! Humaare mallika-e-hind ne unn imaaraton ko awaam ke liye banaya tha...aur usko shehensha ne ek pal mein tawaif ko saub Dia!"
He vented his frustration in one go....
Salima begum says," apne aap ko kaabu mein rakhiye atga sahab! Aap shehensha ka faisla ko Hargis  maqalfat  nahi karenge!"
He says," but why are you preventing me all these years?"
Salima says," agar aap yesa karenge,toh maham anga aapko  wazirat ne nikal ne sifaarish karengi....aur humein nahi Pata chalega ki andhar ho kya rahaa Hai....hum   mauka nahi leh sakte hain!"
Atga khan understands the depth of her words and leaves from there.....

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Let me know your views....

Until then,
Always ♥️